Atkinson-Shiffrin Three-Stage Model

Definition

The Atkinson-Shiffrin model is a theory of human memory that posits three distinct stages of information processing - sensory register, short term store, and long term store.

Analogy

The Atkinson-Shiffrin model can be compared to how a computer processes data. Information enters through input devices (sensory register), gets processed and temporarily stored (short term store), and then gets saved onto the hard drive for long-term storage.

Related terms

Working Memory: This is a cognitive system that holds information temporarily for processing. It's like the computer's RAM in our analogy.

Rehearsal: The process of keeping information in short-term memory by mentally repeating it.

Long-Term Potentiation: A long-lasting increase in synaptic strength between two neurons resulting from their simultaneous activation, which is believed to be a biological mechanism for learning and memory.